Infrastructure development efforts to sustain economic growth continue with the recent approval of four major transportation projects worth P126.51 billion by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board chaired by President Benigno Aquino III.
In its September 4 meeting, the NEDA Board gave the go-signal for Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 4 and 6, Clark International Airport’s (CRK) new passenger terminal building (PTB), and the Naga Airport development.
The P65.09-billion LRT Line 4 is a 19-kilometer railway in Cavite, running from Niyog, Bacoor (the terminus of the LRT 1 CAVEX extension) to Dasmariñas City. The proposed right-of-way alignment is along the Aguinaldo Highway and features seven stations, namely, Niyog, Tirona, Imus, Daang Hari Salitran, Congressional Avenue, and Governor’s Drive.
The project aims to improve passenger mobility and reduce the volume of vehicular traffic in the Cavite area by providing a higher-capacity mass transit system. It also aims to spur economic development along the extension corridor.
The P42.89-billion LRT Line 6, on the other hand, is an 11.3-kilometer rail line running west from SM City in Taytay, Rizal to the intersection of Ortigas Avenue and EDSA in Ortigas. The right-of-way alignment will be along the Taytay Diversion Road and Ortigas Avenue and is envisioned to have six stations—EDSA (transfer station to the MRT), Meralco Avenue, Pasig, Bonifacio Avenue, L Wood Road, and SM Taytay.
The project seeks to provide improved local transportation solutions and a better link to Metro Manila for the large and growing population in the Taytay environs.
The NEDA Board also gave the thumbs-up for two regional airport projects, both to be funded by the national budget.
Approved was the P15.35-billion new PTB for CRK which will be built to meet the expansion requirements of the Northern Luzon hub and accommodate up to 3 million passengers yearly. The project will also call for installing equipment, machinery, and facilities.
Approved too, was the P3.53-billion Naga Airport development project which involves the reorientation of the airfield to enable dual-approach landing and takeoff. New airside and landside facilities will be established to meet growing tourism demand.
During the same meeting, the NEDA Board likewise approved the Department of Energy’s P4.89-billion Access to Sustainable Energy Program. The project will provide grant assistance for solar home systems and rural power-generation facilities, as well as technical assistance to the National Electrification Administration, Energy Regulatory Commission, and electric cooperatives. Focal point for capacity-building is the development of pro-poor, disaster-resilient solutions.
The European Union will provide official development assistance worth P2.82 billion, while the balance will be secured from the national budget.
